[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Glare
move 3: Defog
move 4: Knock Off
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Contrary
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Leaf Storm, Serperior's typical snowballing motif, perhaps synergizes more with Choice Scarf than any other of the items, locking into a single move that handles boosting and cleaning simultaneously. With Serperior's unique Speed tier, Glare can be a lifeline against Speed-boosting threats like Mega Charizard X and opposing Choice Scarf users like Landorus-T and Kartana, and it acts as a pseudo-coverage move to irritate anything that shrugs off Leaf Storm. Though a Choice Scarf Serperior makes for quite a lousy Defogger, its inclusion on the set can come in clutch for teams not particularly weak to entry hazards, and it can work as a secondary Defogger alongside a more consistent teammate. Knock Off is another option to harass defensive walls like Chansey, Heatran, and Celesteela to assist its team in whittling them down.
Set Details
========
A bulkier EV spread isn't entirely necessary, as the main draw of this set is using its great Speed tier to clean up offensive teams with repeated Leaf Storms, so a fully offensive spread is chosen here.
Usage Tips
========
As an offensively inclined Choice Scarf user, the main idea is to set up an endgame where opposing Grass-resistant Pokemon are too weak to handle Leaf Storm. Luckily for Serperior, its common answers on offense teams tend not to last forever, with the likes of Assault Vest Magearna and Mega Mawile lacking longevity and others like Volcarona and the Mega Charizard formes necessitating a field clear of Stealth Rock. Entry hazards can give Serperior a more active role in setting the scene for its own late-game sweep, as they compound with Leaf Storm and benefit greatly from Knock Off removing Leftovers from the likes of Heatran. Even in matches where Serperior has no late-game future, it can still squeeze out plenty of value mid- or late-game with its utility movepool, being able to sacrificially throw itself at the likes of Mega Charizard X and Volcarona to paralyze them or to force hazard removal to set up a teammate in a pinch.
Team Options
========
This set is best fit as an anti-offense option for your own offense team, generally, as it needs heavy support in breaking down Grass-resistant Pokemon and can offer much more safety against opposing boosting threats. Both Protean and Battle Bond Greninja make for great teammates, both having crucial Spikes support in common. A Hidden Power Fire variant of Protean Greninja is especially useful, as it has the huge benefit of baiting in and weakening Ferrothorn, Celesteela, and Mega Scizor, while Battle Bond naturally draws in and chips Assault Vest Magearna and can force out Heatran. Heatran itself is a great partner for Serperior, setting crucial Stealth Rock to dig into Serperior's offensive checks like Kyurem-B, the various other Fire-types, and threatening Steel-types like little else. Garchomp is another option for an entry hazard setter that can soft-check Fire-types and punch a hole with Rockium Z. Fightinium Z and Choice Band variants of Tapu Bulu and Kartana are some of the most consistent lures for Steel-types; Tapu Bulu has the downside of increasing the longevity of some of Serperior's checks but does boost the potency of Leaf Storm.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/alpha1013.565035/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Glare
move 3: Defog
move 4: Knock Off
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Contrary
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Leaf Storm, Serperior's typical snowballing motif, perhaps synergizes more with Choice Scarf than any other of the items, locking into a single move that handles boosting and cleaning simultaneously. With Serperior's unique Speed tier, Glare can be a lifeline against Speed-boosting threats like Mega Charizard X and opposing Choice Scarf users like Landorus-T and Kartana, and it acts as a pseudo-coverage move to irritate anything that shrugs off Leaf Storm. Though a Choice Scarf Serperior makes for quite a lousy Defogger, its inclusion on the set can come in clutch for teams not particularly weak to entry hazards, and it can work as a secondary Defogger alongside a more consistent teammate. Knock Off is another option to harass defensive walls like Chansey, Heatran, and Celesteela to assist its team in whittling them down.
Set Details
========
A bulkier EV spread isn't entirely necessary, as the main draw of this set is using its great Speed tier to clean up offensive teams with repeated Leaf Storms, so a fully offensive spread is chosen here.
Usage Tips
========
As an offensively inclined Choice Scarf user, the main idea is to set up an endgame where opposing Grass-resistant Pokemon are too weak to handle Leaf Storm. Luckily for Serperior, its common answers on offense teams tend not to last forever, with the likes of Assault Vest Magearna and Mega Mawile lacking longevity and others like Volcarona and the Mega Charizard formes necessitating a field clear of Stealth Rock. Entry hazards can give Serperior a more active role in setting the scene for its own late-game sweep, as they compound with Leaf Storm and benefit greatly from Knock Off removing Leftovers from the likes of Heatran. Even in matches where Serperior has no late-game future, it can still squeeze out plenty of value mid- or late-game with its utility movepool, being able to sacrificially throw itself at the likes of Mega Charizard X and Volcarona to paralyze them or to force hazard removal to set up a teammate in a pinch.
Team Options
========
This set is best fit as an anti-offense option for your own offense team, generally, as it needs heavy support in breaking down Grass-resistant Pokemon and can offer much more safety against opposing boosting threats. Both Protean and Battle Bond Greninja make for great teammates, both having crucial Spikes support in common. A Hidden Power Fire variant of Protean Greninja is especially useful, as it has the huge benefit of baiting in and weakening Ferrothorn, Celesteela, and Mega Scizor, while Battle Bond naturally draws in and chips Assault Vest Magearna and can force out Heatran. Heatran itself is a great partner for Serperior, setting crucial Stealth Rock to dig into Serperior's offensive checks like Kyurem-B, the various other Fire-types, and threatening Steel-types like little else. Garchomp is another option for an entry hazard setter that can soft-check Fire-types and punch a hole with Rockium Z. Fightinium Z and Choice Band variants of Tapu Bulu and Kartana are some of the most consistent lures for Steel-types; Tapu Bulu has the downside of increasing the longevity of some of Serperior's checks but does boost the potency of Leaf Storm.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/alpha1013.565035/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
